In just her first season as Fremantle captain, Hayley Miller has been selected in the AFLW All-Australian Team for the first time in her career after an outstanding 2022 campaign.
While her on-field talents have been rewarded, the emergence of Miller’s leadership capabilities have also been recognised, appointed as vice-captain of the All-Australian Team.
Named on the half-forward line of the final team, the Fremantle midfielder is the deputy to North Melbourne’s Emma Kearney as the All-Australian captain.
Miller has taken her game to a new level in 2022, with her season statistics falling in the upper echelon across the competition.
The 26-year-old cemented herself as the biggest driver of the football this year, topping the metres gained tally with 4452 metres gained for the season, 91 metres ahead of Adelaide’s Ebony Marinoff in second place.
She also finished in the top ten in the league in the following statistical categories:
- Kicks: 3rd place, with an average of 14.5 per game
- Contested Possessions: 4th place, with an average of 10.3 per game
- Inside 50s: 4th place, with an average of four per game
- Score Involvements: 6th place, with an average of 3.8 per game
- Disposals: 7th place, with an average of 18.7 per game
- Tackles: 7th with an average of 6.1 per game
- Clearances: 9th place, with an average of 3.6 per game, and
- Marks: 10th place, with an average of 3.3 per game
The All-Australian selection is yet another accolade for Miller this week, selected as a nominee for Fremantle in the AFLPA’s Most Valuable Player Award on Monday.
Miller also became the first AFLW player to reach the 50-game mark for Fremantle, playing her milestone match against Adelaide in Saturday’s preliminary final.
Speaking throughout the week ahead of her 50th game, Miller detailed the immense pride she felt in leading her side out as captain each and every week this season.
“This year has been phenomenal for me, becoming Club captain has been a pretty proud moment,” Miller said.
“The amount of support I have received from my parents, my extended family and my friends, I can’t thank them enough.
“To become captain of a group in a year like this has been pretty challenging, but I have learnt so much about my teammates that I didn’t know before.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure to be able to learn a lot about my teammates and watch them each and every week. I’m incredibly proud of every single player.”
Fremantle midfielder Kiara Bowers and versatile winger Ebony Antonio were also recognised for their brilliant seasons with a place in the AFLW All-Australian squad, but the pair were not named in the final team.
See the 2022 AFLW All-Australian Team here:
